Sprint Bill WallerRace Update 4 - A new list of Firsts Posted:5/4/2010 Race Update 4 - A new list of Firsts Hey Race Fan, We had an odd night last night where we had to work out more bugs. Yesterday I discovered that the pad material on one of the front brake pads was missing. So I just had steel rubbing against the aluminum rotor. Now I have a lot less rotor to worry about. After fixing that, I discovered that when the track tried to move the car from last week's tangle, they broke the front wing mount and dinged up my nosewing. We got to the track and started the car only to find the valve cover gasket had given up. I tried tightening the valve covers down more and restarting. This time when I pulled back in, Crewchief Dusty was frantic by the side of the car. It was on fire and wasn't going out! I killed the engine, jumped out and threw dirt on it to put it out. Never had gaskets give up and never caught on fire. I bought some gaskets from a parts trailer and set about putting them on. Those were the most difficult valve cover gaskets I have ever seen! They had to be pushed, pulled, pryed, and poked into place. Finally, we got them on and tested the engine. No leaks! It was race time. I suited up and we rolled to the staging area. I started on the outside of the front row and absolutely spanked them! I had a straightaway lead on the field until the last 2 laps I was trying to lap a car and lost my major lead, but I still won it! The feature saw me again starting on the outside of the front row. But as you might know it, things changed. I richened up the motor because it got a little warm and I was worried with the longer race that it might overheat. Call me paranoid, but I have already burned the motor up once this year. That did it. The car wouldn't take off. So on the start, it blubbered and slobbered and I fell to second. Late in the race, on a restart, the same thing happened and I fell to third. Everytime I hugged the inside of the track and tried coming off the turn, it would stumble. If I went up on the high line (the middle was dried out), then it was too far around and I would lose time. So I did a little of both. Racing is nothing but a study of compromises. We finished third. Then the ultimate happened. I was disqualified for being too light. Dang.. does it ever end! I meant to weigh us and I have weight to add to the car, but in all the hoopla with the fire, leaks, etc etc, I just forgot. So there we have it. Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! No money, No points, No finish! Wonderful! It is my fault and I wasn't too upset. The car is going to the chassis dyno. I am tired of jacking with this thing. I was told these motors are very finicky. Yep! I got a finicky one for sure. I have it close enough that they can dial it in and then I won't have to worry about the motor. Yeaaah!! No new pictures this week. We were too busy working on the thing to take pictures. Be sure and go to youtube and search for bwaller53. Joe Lenz has lots of new videos of us out there. We are scheduled off next week and I need the break. See you at the track. Bill Waller